MOBILE, Alabama – Will a partnership between international venue management giant SMG and home-grown promotion company Huka Entertainment take over the historic Mobile Saenger Theatre? The Mobile City Council’s culture committee will consider the deal later this morning at a meeting that is open to all interested parties.

The committee’s task essentially is to give a positive or negative recommendation on the deal to the Mobile City Council, which has twice postponed a vote on the contract. If approved, SMG will take over day-to-day management of the “Jewel on Joachim,” with any payments contingent on SMG’s ability to reduce the theater’s persistent operating deficit, while Huka will book shows.

SMG already manages the Mobile Civic Center, a point that became a bone of contention last week. Mike Rogers, the board chairman of the Centre for the Living Arts, criticized SMG on the grounds that the Civic Center’s overall condition was “depressing” and its bookings scant. SMG officials responded that the company is responsible only for operating the venue, not for booking shows, an enterprise that involves considerable financial risk, or for modernizing it, which would require massive investment from the city.

Ryan Chavez of Huka echoed the view of an SMG regional manager who said the SMG-Huka pairing could be “a perfect storm” for the venue. The situation at the Civic Center would have no bearing on the Saenger, he said. “SMG would run the venue,” he said. “That’s their strength. That’s what they do.”

Huka Entertainment was founded in Mobile and later moved its base of operations to New Orleans. It books concerts primarily in the Southeast, with upcoming events scheduled in North Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama. The company also is extensively involved in festival planning, with a major role in building the Hangout Music Fest among its credits. Earlier this year, it was bought by industry heavyweight SFX Entertainment.

The culture committee's recommendation will be passed along to the full City Council, which meets Tuesday. There has been some suggestion that a decision should be delayed until the administration of Mayor-elect Sandy Stimpson takes over in November.

Chavez encouraged anyone interested in the future of the Saenger to attend today’s culture committee meeting, which takes place at 11 a.m. on the ninth floor of Government Plaza.